Selective information tab device



May 10, 1949. w, 2,469,762

SELECTIVE INFORMATION TAB DEVICE Filed Oct. 12, 1945 W g -H [/VVE/VTQR w. w. cums '47 TORNEYS Patented May 10,1949

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SELECTIVE INFORMATION TAB DEVICE Wesley W. Cline, Charleston, W. Va. Application October 12, 1945, Serial No. 621,948

. 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a selective information device, and more particularly to a series of cards or tabs selectively interconnected in an interchangeable relationship.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel device having a series of superimposed cards pivotally connected together at one end and having means whereby the relative position of the cards may be changed without breaking the connection.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel information card device having a, series of superimposed cards permanently connected together at one end in such manner that any card may be moved to the top position without breaking the connection.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel selective information tab device in which the tabs are pivotally connected together and in which means are provided to permit any tab to be pivoted about its connection to a position over all the other tabs.

Other objects of this invention will appear from the following specification and claims and from the accompanying drawing illustrating the invention wherein:

Figure 1 is a bottom View of the selective information device of this invention with part of the device cut away to show the interior construction;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of part of the device taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1 and showing the cam finger for camming the cards to the topmost position;

Figure 3 is a bottom view of the device with part of the device cut away and with the cards in a pivotally ofiset position;

Figure 4 is an elevational view of the device looking in the direction of the arrows 4-4 in Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged elevational view looking at the pivotal end of the device showing one of the cards being moved to its new position at the top.

Referring to the drawing, the device has a series of cards or tabs I to 8, inclusive, in superimposed relationship and pivotally connected together at one end by the bolt 9. The device illustrated in Figure 5 shows the use of eight information tabs but any number, more or less, may be used. At the top and bottom of the cards or tabs are positioned protective cover sheets, Ill at the top and II at the bottom. These cover sheets are made of any suitable transparent material so that the cards beneath will be visible therethrough. Thus the information on the top card I, Figure 5, will be visible through the transparent cover sheet II). The cover sheets have openings at the pivoted end of the device to receive the bolt 9. Over cover sheet I0 is a washer disc I2 and under cover sheet II is a washer disc I3, the washer discs being held in position by the bolt 9 passing through openings therein.

The bottom washer I 3 has a prong or cam finger I4 welded or otherwise fixed to the inner face of the washer. As seen in Figures 3 and 5, the prong I4 extends, up from the washer I3 through a slit I I in the cover sheet I I and into a space I 5 which is formed by cutting out portions slightly greater than a quadrant from each of the tabs I to 8, im elusive. The cut-out portions are superimposed to form the chamber or space I 5. As seen in Figure 3, the line of cut passes through the pivotal axis of the cards. -In order to prevent the cards from being disconnected from each other in the pivotal region, each of the cards I to 8, inclusive, each cover sheet In and II, and each washer I2 and I3 is provided with a circumferential hollow rib, designated by the numeral I6 in the cards, the numeral I! in the cover sheets, and the numeral I8 in the washers. These ribs are superimposed and lit into each other to prevent separation of the cards in the plane of the cards. When all or one of the cards is pivotedto an ofiset position its pivotal axis is fixed by the coaction of its hollow circumferential rib IS with adjacent ribs I 6 or I1, the circumferential ribs 'coacting with each other in all positions of the tabs I to 8, inclusive. Each of the cards I .to 8, inclusive, has its edges at the cut-out portion beveled as shown at I8 in Figure 5 so thatas a card is pivoted, for example, card 2 as shown in Figure 5, its forward edge I9 is cammed upwardly by the cam finger I4 to a position over the card I. The cover sheet Ill and washer I2 are formed with bulges 20 and 2|, respectively, adjacent the tip of the cam finger I4 to assist in guiding the forward edge I 9 of card 2 above card I.

The right end of the device, as seen in Figures 1 to 4, is provided with a pair of bolts '22 passing through the cover sheets I0 and II and through a filler member 23 placed between the cover sheets. The filler member may consist of a number of superimposed strips of any suitable material providing a total depth equal to the depth presented by the tabs I to 8. The inner side of the filler member 23 is provided with a stop 24 which coacts with a stop 25 formed on each of the cards I to 8. Each of the cover members I 0 and II have cutouts 26 to enable pushing the cards or any one of them to a position offset from the cover sheets to facilitate pivotal movement.

Each of the tabs or cards I to 8 hav data and information of some sort imprinted or marked thereon. When the cards are in superimposed posltion as shown in Figure 1, only the data on the top card I is visible through the transparent cover sheet l0. If an operator desires to obtain data from oneofrthe other cards-for example, card 2, he Pl-VOtQfiHtthG-OhldS 130-511'OffSBll position as shown'in Figure 3, pulls card 2 ahead of the other cards, and returns the other cards to their original position. He then continues to rotate the card 2 clockwise aboutlthebolt 9 :asa pivot until the card extent of about 180", the position shown in Figure 5. When the forward edgefldof sthecard 'i, as shown in Figure 5, reaches the cam finger [4, said forward edge is cammed upwardly to a position immediately under the cover sheet I0 and over' the top' earml. Continuedmovement of the card Zresultsfid the whole'ca'rd' Z-being cammed up Iinto "the top superimposed position over card i, -rrnus.tne dataon. cardsziwill' be directly visible through the transp'arent .cover "sheet 10, Likewise Qany other :card :can be similarly pivoted to the topmostzposition. Duringthe' pivotal action, the cards are held: against'separation atthe pivot by the circumferential:hollow-ribs? held" in engagement with each other any: the washers t2 and I 3 and bolt-J9. "The stops? and 25 permit pivotal movementinzonlyone direction.

"While ;.a certain =specific embodiment of this invention has rbeenxshown it will be understood that/variousmodifications maybe made within the -spi'ritr-ot the invention 'l'fl'iereforeno limitations :the invention: are :intended I other than are.imposedsbyztheascopeof:the appended claims.

:Iclaim:

1. 1A selective information tab device comprising'aseriesiofztabslarranged in superimposed relatiom eacniof saidtabsihavinga circumferential hollow rib, thecrespectiveribs coacting wi'th each otherato hold. said :tabs together in a 1 permanent manner, :an end nizeadh or said'tabs being provlde'd with a sent ent-portion, a "connection pivotallr securing said items ;together, the cut-out portionsxor-tne respective tabs enclosing said connection and qformingi a hollow space, 'and a cam finger rcarried ,brsaid connection and extending upwardly through said:- space 1 for :camming any one of the 1781135117023. positiomoverall of :theother tabs uponzpivotahmovementsof said one tab.

.2. A,selectivednformationatab device comprising 21.312931. :0! disk washers arranged in superimposed: relation an'd spacedrrrom-each other,- an upstanding:pimpassingrthrough.saidwashers and securecttheretoitaseries:ofztabsarranged in superimposed .;re1ation.finterposed zbetween saidv wash- 2 has been rotated to an ers, an end of each of said tabs being mounted for pivotal movement about said pin, the end of each of said tabs being provided with a cut-out portion, the cut-out portions of the respective tabs enclosing the pivotal mounting and forming a hollow space, and a cam finger carried by one of said washers and extending upwardly through said space for camming any one of the tabs to position over all the other tabs uponpivotal movement of said one tab.

3. A selective information tab device comprising a pair of disk washers arranged in superimposed relation and spaced from each other, an upstanding pin passing through said washers and secured thereto, a series of tabs arranged in superimposed relation interposed between said washers, an end of each'of :said tabs being mounted for pivotaltmovement about said pin, the end of each of said tabs being provided with a cut-out portion having its bounding edges beveled, the cut-out portions of therespectivetabs enclosing the-pivotal mounting andforming a-hollow space, and a cam finger carried by one of-said washers, there being an outward bulge onthe other'of said washers, said cam finger extending-into said space to a positionadjacent said bulge whereby when one of said tabs ispivoted about saicl'pin, its beveled edge is cammed upwardly bysaid finger to a position above the topmost tab between the tip of said'finger and said bulge.

4. A selective information tabdevice comprising a pairof disk washers arrangedin-superimposed relation and spaced from 'each other, an upstanding pin passing-through said washers and secured thereto, a series of tabsarranged in supenmposed relation interposed between said washers, each of said'tabshaving a-circumferential hollow rib, the respective-ribs*coacting with eachother-to hold saidtabs together-in a permanent manner, amend or each-of said tabs being mounted for pivotal movement 'aboutsaid pin, the end ofeach'of-said tabs being provided with a quadrant-shaped cut-out portion, the cut-out portions of'the respective tabs enclosing the pivotal mounting and forming a hollow space, and a cam finger carried by one of said washers and extending upwardly througnsa-id space for camming any one of the tabs to a position over all of the tabs upon pivotal movement of said one tab.

WESLEY"W. CLINE.

REFERENCES 'ICITED UNITED STATES LPATENTS Name Date Lough Dec. 2'7, .1904

Number 

